Retiree Welfare Plan (RWP)

You have reached age 55 and are retiring from active covered employment; AND

At the time you retire, you have ten (10) years of eligibility under the Midwest Operating Engineers Health and Welfare Plan; AND

You have ten (10) Years of Vesting Service under the Midwest Operating Engineers Pension Plan; AND

You are receiving normal, early, or disability retirement benefits under the Midwest Operating Engineers Pension Fund; AND

You have not, as of the date of your retirement, continued eligibility under the Active Plan for a period in excess of twelve (12) consecutive months from the date that the Fund last received a contribution for you.

This requirement will not apply if the Trustees determine that you are eligible under this Plan due to a total disability that is continuous to the date of your retirement.

A 12-month eligibility break can be repaired if, prior to retirement, you regain eligibility and remain eligible for a continuous period of time that equals the length of your break, or 36 months, which­ever is less.

If you are awaiting the outcome of a Worker’s Compensation disability decision, the 12-month period will be extended to 36 months.

Please Note: There are special rules if you are a Municipality Employee or a Railroad Employee. If you fall into either category, call the Fund Office at (708) 482-7300.

ATTENTION MARKETPLACE MEMBERS: If you are considering retirement, its extremely important that you attend an Open Enrollment event prior to your selected retirement date. This will be the last opportunity prior to retirement that you will be able to transfer credits from your Credit Bank to your Retiree Medical Savings Plan (RMSP) account. Recall your RMSP account can be used to pay for your Retiree Welfare Premium if you are eligible for the RWP. If you do not transfer enough credits during open enrollment, you will run out of your active credit bank until you transfer over to the RWP. When you become eligible for retiree coverage, you are no longer eligible for weekly disability, death, or accidental dismemberment benefits (except Local 537; please call Fund Office for more information).

Retiree Health & Welfare Rates

Once you meet the eligibility requirements of the RWP, you must pay a monthly premium for healthcare benefits. You will have the choice of deducting this premium from your RMSP account or from your monthly pension check that you will receive from the Midwest Operating Engineers Pension fund. These rates are effective each July 1 and are adjusted each Plan Year. Please note, the monthly cost is per eligible member and eligible dependent.

Maximum Annual Pharmacy Benefit

Under the RWP, there is a maximum annual pharmacy benefit of $30,000 first effective January 1, 2017. Click here to read more.

Medicare – PLEASE READ

Once you become eligible for Medicare, Medicare will become your primary coverage and the RWP coverage will be secondary. In addition, your monthly RWP premium will decrease once you attain Medicare age. When you or your eligible dependent becomes Medicare eligible you must take Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. For more information regarding the impact of Medicare, please click the sidebar.

The information on this Web site presents selected highlights of the Midwest Operating Engineers Fringe Benefit Funds, the Health and Welfare Fund, and the Pension Fund. The actual Plan provisions of each Plan are in the Plan's legal document. In the event of a conflict between the wording on this Web site and the legal documents, the legal documents will govern. The Trustees reserve the right to amend, modify, or discontinue all or part of any Plan at any time.